Method and apparatus for occlusion analysis

Abstract

A method and apparatus for determination of the jaw relation and for instrumental occlusion analysis, which permit a reliable diagnosis and treatment for the occlusion. For this purpose, a maxillary model and mandibular model from a patient are fixed in plaster independently of one another and anatomically correctly and are placed one upon the other in an instantaneous occlusal position. For the instantaneous occlusal position, the positioning of the articular cavities of the maxillary model relative to the hinge axis of the mandibular model is determined, and the maxillary model is then displaced three-dimensionally relative to the mandibular model, with symmetrical alignment of the articular cavities relative to the hinge axis. The resulting jaw relation is fixed for an analysis of the malocclusions.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of occlusion analysis wherein a maxillary model and mandibular model from a patient are fixed in plaster independently of one another and anatomically correctly, said method comprising the steps of placing the models one upon the other in an instantaneous occlusal position, determining the positioning of the articular cavities of the maxillary model relative to the hinge axis of the mandibular model with the models in the instantaneous occlusal position, displacing the maxillary model relative to the mandibular model to produce symmetrical alignment of the articular cavities relative to the hinge axis, and determining the resulting jaw relationships in order to analyze the malocclusions. 
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 wherein the maxillary model and mandibular model are placed one upon the other in the central occlusion position. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 1 wherein the articular cavities and the hinge axis are simulated instrumentally on two support parts which can be swivelled relative to one another and on which the models are secured. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 1 wherein the maxillary model is displaced relative to the mandibular model by means of displacement of articular cavities which can be moved independently of one another in a three-dimensional manner. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 1 wherein the maxillary model is fixed in plaster with reference to the cranium and the mandibular model is fixed in plaster with reference to the hinge axis. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 5 wherein, for fixing the maxillary model in plaster with reference to the cranium, the row of teeth of the maxilla is set parallel to the bipupillar line of the patient. 
     
     
       7. Apparatus for use in the determination of the relationships between the jaws of a patient comprising a mandibular part and a maxillary part, each of said parts having base plate means for supporting a jaw model, means for supporting said maxillary part from said mandibular part, said supporting means defining a hinge axis for said maxillary part, said maxillary part having a pair of outer arms and a guide body, said arms being respectively disposed at a pair of opposite sides of said guide body, said maxillary part base plate means being supported from said guide body, said maxillary part further having support means for said outer arms, said outer arm support means permitting independent displacement of said outer arms relative to said guide body, said outer arm support mans each including a sliding body, said sliding bodies being coupled to said guide body so as to be slidably displaceable relative thereto, each of said arms being coupled to its associated sliding body so as to be slidably displaceable relative thereto. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the sliding bodies each include a first guide attachment defining a first guide path and means defining a second guide path, said guide paths cooperating respectively with a first guide path in the opposite side of the guide body and with second guide attachments on the associated outer arm. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the longitudinal extents of the first guide attachment and of the second guide path run perpendicular to each other. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the outer arms and the sliding bodies are designed in mirror image relative to the longitudinal axis of the guide body. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said support means for said outer arms further comprise means on said arms which form seats and means on said means for supporting said maxillary part from said mandibular part which define joints which cooperate with said seats, said seats and joint defining means defining said hinge axis and simulating an articulated human jaw hinge axle. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said seat defining means are arranged in attachments which are securable on the outer arms so as to be laterally displaceable relative to a center line of the baseplate means and the longitudinal line of the guide body. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising scale means for permitting determination of the independent displacement of said two outer arms relative to said guide body, said scale defining means including a co-displaced graduation mark which is a measure of the displacement. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the jaw models are each secured via a control block on the mandibular part or maxillary part. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the control block for the maxillary model is held on the maxillary part so as to be movable in inclination.